Australian singer Kate Ceberano has expressed profound distress after encountering a deepfake AI-generated image depicting her emotionally distraught over the death of late actor Sam Neill.

The fabricated post, shared by a Facebook page, showed her holding a phone with a photo of herself embracing Neill, accompanied by a caption falsely claiming it was their final photo together.

Ceberano, an ARIA Hall of Fame inductee, described the experience as 'nearly throwing up' and expressed fury at her likeness being used without consent.She criticized the post as 'specious' and warned that reality is being manipulated by AI, urging people to question everything.The incident highlights growing concerns about deepfake technology's potential for misuse, including misinformation and privacy violations.Experts warn of the dangers posed by hyper-realistic AI-generated content, which can fuel scams and distort public perception.

Ceberano's case underscores the emotional and ethical challenges faced by public figures in an era where digital manipulation is increasingly sophisticated.The post sparked mixed reactions, with many condemning the AI-generated content as a 'grim new reality' while others offered support.

As AI technology advances, the line between authentic and artificial content becomes harder to discern, raising urgent questions about accountability and digital ethics.